Mood Board: Worth Fighting For

Yesterday, I reviewed Worth Fighting For, which was a fantastic book. You can read my review here. 

I have fun making these mood boards.

Review: Worth Fighting For

 

* Part of the of MEANT TO BE novels * 

Fa Mulan works in finance, but the finance bros just might be the death of her. Yes, her father owns the company, but that's not why she was hired. Her father's interested in making a deal with a family run whiskey company. Fa Mulan can't understand why because the numbers don't add up.

But when her father has a heart attack just before the negotiations start, Fa Mulan promises that she will get the deal done. 

But the family run company is traditional and only wants to negotiate with a man. Fa Mulan steps in and assumes her father's name. Her father talked about his time on a ranch. The family is unimpressed with Fa Mulan's presentation but agree to her coming to the ranch and showing off her skills.

Fa Mulan doesn't have those skills, but maybe her sheer determination will convince the family. Can she get the job done for her father?

My Thoughts: I loved this book - it was charming and funny. The time on the ranch was hilarious. I enjoyed Shang's family - the women were sweet and feisty. The men were old school and annoying (some of them) but some just wanted to do right by the company. I loved Mushu (Fa Mulan's cousin) - especially how her story ended. Another fantastic retelling; I didn't want this to end.

Cover Thoughts: Adorable

Source: My Library

Why I Read It: I love these retellings and Mulan is a favorite story of mine. 

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended series for your public library's romance collection

Hand this to: Disney adults 

* these are not series in term of connecting characters, but in terms of Disney retellings *

Blog Tour: Dream

 

About the Book:

Set in small-town Colby, NC, DREAM follows aspiring songwriter Idalee Lovett, who lives in a rooming house with a motley crew of tenants while her mama's on tour. With the help of her friends (familiar faces from Wish), she embarks on a hunt for the long-lost treasure allegedly hidden in their house, to buy the shiny blue guitar in Asheville's music shop -- the key to winning the local radio station's songwriting contest.

What was YOUR dream at the age of twelve? 

My Dream: It's hard to remember my dreams at the that age. But I had a couple. 

One was to play basketball in high school and college.

How it turned out:

I played JV basketball in high school for two years. I didn't have the heart for it and I wasn't good enough to make it.

My Dream: I wanted to be a writer

How it Turned Out: 

I am a writer. I haven't published a book yet, but I have written articles for librarian magazines. I'm working on the novel part. Hopefully one day. 

Graphic Novel Review: Grilled Cheese Caper

* First Book in the series *

When the grilled cheese festival is ruined because someone stole all the sandwiches, the detectives are on the case. There are two suspects. Can Purrlock and Marlowe uncover the culprit?

My Thoughts: This was such a fun graphic novel. I loved the mystery. I love how the detectives followed the clue - most of the time.  This is a great graphic novel for younger readers that will appeal to many readers. 

Source: My Library

Why I read it: I love grilled cheese and detective novels - the combination sold me

Library Recommendation: Highly Recommended for your graphic novel collection

Picture Book Review: If Animals Loved Books

The illustrations are charming in this book loving story. The ending is perfect. I'm not sure which animal is the cutest; they are all adorable. It might be the puppies and storytime. Or it could be....

You will have to read this book and decide for yourself. 

* Book sent for review 

Top Ten Tuesday: Freebie

 This week's topic is a non-bookish freebie. Which is hard to come up with a topic. If you're a reader of this blomg you know I'm a Huge Swiftie.  So I'm picking favorite Taylor Swift Songs. These change frequently, but mostly stay close to the top. The numbers vary depending on my mood.

This was my list from 2017, it's changed a bit since then...

1. Mr. Perfectly Fine 

2. All Too Well (10 minute version)

3. Right Where You Left Me

4. Christmas Tree Farm

5. Betty

6. Long Live

7. You Belong with Me

8. I Can Do It With a Broken Heart

9. But Daddy I Love Him

10. Loss of My Life

I feel like I'm missing several songs...

What songs are in your top 10?

Middle Grade Monday: Trouble at the Tangerine

Simon's family moves around - a lot. He's tired of moving and would love to stay in one place. He wants to put down roots, make some friends, and not worry about being perfect all the time. Simon's family runs a social media page. Simon doesn't mind social media, but it doesn't share real life. It doesn't talk about the loneliness he feels or leaving friends behind or not letting people know the real him. 

But on the first day they move it, a necklace is stolen. Because of the circumstances, the thief has to be someone inside the building. Simon's parents aren't thrilled with the theft and his father is already talking about their nect adventure. Simon teams up with his neighbor Amaya to discover the thief. He hopes that in they do, his parents will stop thinking about moving already.

My Thoughts: I really loved this mystery. I felt badly for Simon: 

1. His leg is broke and he's having a hard time getting around. 

2. He's hiding himself if order to make friends

3. He doesn't stay in touch with any of this past friends

I loved how Amaya and Simon investigated the people in the building. There's quite a cast of characters. I liked how things ended - especially with Simon making new friends. I love how social media tied inot this book. I hope this is the start of a series. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: Book sent for review

Library Recommendation: A fun middle grade mystery, highly recommended for your school and public library collections. 

Picture Book Review: Kittybunkport

 

The kitties of the town are afraid of the lighthouse, because it's haunted. But they are even more afraid when the light goes out. Chowder and Crackers are elected to go fix the problem. But they are scared.

This was a cute about cats and dogs in Maine. While this is a funny book, it also has a great message about facing your fears. 

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your picture book collection

Review: Elizabeth of East Hampton

 

A modern-day retelling of Pride and Prejudice set in Long Island and the Hamptons. 

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this retelling. It was funny, smart, and thoroughly entertaining. The modern changes worked. Kitty and Lydia are twins, Mary is an activist, and Jane is a teacher. Elizabeth is a surfer. Jane and Charlie meet at a bar and their relationship is adorable. The family owns a bakery where Elizabeth works. She's hoping to be a journalist, but her father's health and her fears are holding her back. The heart of the story is the same.

Cover Thoughts: Cute 

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly Recommended for your romance section

Why I read it: I'm a sucker for Jane Austen retellings

Hand this to: Raders who love Jane Austen

Review: Finders Keepers Library

 

* Book 1 in the Love in Bloom series * 

For a gardener blessed with a green thumb, Savannah Collins’s life sure seems like it’s all thorns, zero roses. She has no job, no relationship, and no place to live. With nothing but a car full of plants and her new rescue kitten, Savannah heads to Bloom, North Carolina, to spend the summer with her beloved Aunt Eleanor, a retired librarian.

Her aunt shares her love of literature with the Finders Keepers Library, located in her beautiful garden, where anyone can stop by to pick a book or leave a book. When a sudden summer storm destroys the library and many of the roses, it will take a village to get everything ready for the garden wedding that is planned there in just three weeks.

As the entire town joins in to make the necessary repairs, Savannah bonds with their neighbor Evan Sanders over the books that Eleanor has handpicked for each of them, helping them both find healing and self-discovery. Savannah only intends to stay through the summer, but when an unexpected job offer, a sudden health crisis, and a wayward pre-teen push her future in new directions, she has to wonder whether this is the place that she is meant to be—and the family she’s meant to be with. - Summary from the publisher

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. I loved Aunt Eleanor and her garden library. I loved the bookish moments and the reading lists. I enjoyed the second chance romance with Savannah and Evan. June made for some entertaining moments - I felt badly for her. I wanted to wrap her up in a hug. The social media moments were funny. The secondary characters round out this novel, I can't wait to see who is featured in the next book. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute - love the stack of books

Source: My Library

 Why I read this: the author + the 2nd book is a Christmas story

Hand this to: Readers who love Hallmark movies and readers who love books about books

Library Recommendation: Highly Recommended for your romance collection.

Picture Book Review: G is for Gratitude

 

This alphabet book is set up nicely - for a child who can't sleep, they breathe deeply and think about all the good things in this world (which can be hard to do these days). 

I'm not sure which letter is my favorite. I'm fond of Creating, Dogs, Hope, Kindness, Voices, and more. The illustrations are lovely. The characters are diverse. There's so much packed into this book; there's so much to talk about. There's such a great opportunity to talk about feelings and big pictures. 

* Book sent for review

** Highly Recommended for your school and public library collections

Top Ten Tuesday: Longest Books I've Ever Read

 This week's topic is the longest books you've ever read. I've read some long fantasy books. Let's take a look:

The biggest:

1276 pages

I read this in high school for fun and I loved it. Great revenge story.

 

1177 pages and 1016 pages- I hope this series gets finished one day! 

980 pages

896 pages

845 pages

835 pages

835 pages

816 pages

805 pages

What's the longest book that you've read?

Middle Grade Monday: Sunny Figures it Out

* Book 6 in the Sunny series *

Sunny and Tony enjoy spending time together. Sunny's friend Deb has ideas on how dating is done and how the boys should behave. Sunny and Tony try out her advice, but it feels wrong. Is there a right way to date?

My Thoughts: Yes, this is historical fiction for middle grade readers, but the dating moments are too funny. Deb is very opinionated and shares her thoughts freely. I love the romance books that Sunny reads. Both Sunny and her mother struggle with finding their place and I love that they're going through this together and supporting each other. It's funny reading stories about the lack of technology: passing notes and landlines. I loved how this one ended. The Sunny graphic novels are fantastic reads that deal with universal topics that kids are still figuring out today.

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A must have series for your school and public library 

Mood Board

 Yesterday, I reviewed The Love Haters (review: here)

Today I'm sharing a mood board for the book:

Review: The Love Haters

 

Katie's gotten herself into a pickle. Her company is laying off people, but her boss asks her to go film a promotional video for the Coast Guard. Katie can't swim. But she takes the job anyways: fake it until you make it. Right?

She doesn't realize that the hero she will be filming is her boss's brother. 

Hutch can't believe his brother sent someone else to film the promo video after all the work he put in making sure his brother's company won the bid. He's determined to just get through it, but life has other plans.

Katie gets swept up by his Aunt Rue and swept off her feet (literally) by Hutch's great dane. Life didn't used to be so complicated, but everything spirals out of control. Can Katie sort everything out before it's too late?

My Thoughts: I loved this book. I love how Katie became more relaxed as she spent more time with Hutch and Rue. I loved Rue and her friends and how they included Katie in their plans. The brothers' relationship was interesting - but I felt badly for Hutch and I wanted to shake Cole. The dog was adorable and a scene stealer. Funny and charming, this book was the perfect summer read. 

Cover Thoughts: Charming

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your romance collection.

Children's Book review: The Children's Illustrated Book of Tarot

 

I've always been fascinated by Tarot Cards but I don't know too much about them.

This book takes the reader through the Major Arcana cards (22 of them) in a fun, easy, and understandable way to learn. 

The Layout: Each spread has a charming illustration, information about that card, and asks a question that will help understand the card. 

There are so many great questions, it's hard to pick a favorite, but I think I'll choose:

I love how the magician is about creating and the question is what did you create today.

For me, creating pieces of art, usually in the form of painting but sometimes card making or jewelry making fills my well. It's generally a peaceful activity and makes me feel better about myself and the world. I love that this card asks about creating something. 

This is the last painting I've created, and I wasn't pleased with it. It was for a work event paint night. I had the sky going well and then I messed it all up. The sky is supposed to be lighter. 

What have you created lately?

* Book sent for review 

Review: Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

 

I know that I'm late to the party on this book.

My niece recommended it and I'm very happy that she did.

So here are seven reasons why I loved it:

1. Hollywood - I adore these stories

2. Feminist Icon - this was a fun story with a woman who went after what she wanted

3. The way the story was told

4. the book deal

5. Monique's story

6. The Romances

7. That ending...

Picture Book Review: Just One Wave

 

Liam's happy his family is headed to the beach - but he wants there to be waves. But the waves are calm and quiet today. Liam and his sister play and have a great time. Liam comes up with a solution before they leave.

This is a cute book about two siblings playing at the beach. It's cute and fun and the perfect summer read. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Book Recommendations: Middle Grade Mysteries

 This week's topic is book recommendations. I'm picking middle grade mysteries/thrillers. 

 

 

Have you read any of these?